Farm crop handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Farm crop handling apparatus comprising a rotatable crop pickup assembly, including a plurality of longitudinally spaced, radially extending, pickup tines supported by a driven hub, a freely rotatable stripper drum, receiving the hub of the pickup assembly and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therein receiving the pickup tines which extend through the openings and move between radially outer positions to pick up crop and radially inner positions to deposit the lifted crop on the stripper drum as the drum and pickup assembly are rotated, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, flexible coupling members connected between the pickup assembly and the drum for driving the crop stripper drum when the pickup assembly is driven.

United States Patent 11 1 Marsh FARM CROP HANDLING APPARATUS [76]lnventor: Preston L. Marsh, Rt. 1, Hope,

Mich. 48628 [22] Filed: Apr. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 248,158

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.77,428, Oct. 2;

[52] U.S. Cl. 56/364, 56/372 [51] Int. Cl A01d 43/02 [58] Field ofSearch 56/364, 372,'l4.4, 56/16.4, 14.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,133,143 10/1938 lnnes56/364 2,286,095 6/1942 lnnes 56/364 Oberholtz et a1. 56/364 PrimaryExaminerAnt0nio F. Guida Attorney--Learman & McCulloch ,"[57] ABSTRACTFarm crop handling apparatus comprising a rotatable crop pickupassembly, including a plurality of longitudinally spaced, radiallyextending, pickup tines supported by a driven hub, a freely rotatablestripper drum, receiving the hub of the pickup assembly and having aplurality of longitudinally spaced openings therein receiving the pickuptines which extend through the openings and move between radially outerpositions to pick up crop and radially inner positions todeposit thelifted crop on the stripper drum as the drum and pickup assembly arerotated, and a plurality V of circumferentially spaced, flexiblecoupling members connected between the pickup assembly and the drum fordriving the crop stripper drum when the pickup assembly is driven.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures FARM CROP HANDLING APPARATUS FIELD OF THEINVENTION This invention is a continuation-in-part application ofapplicants copending patent application, Ser. No. 77,428, filed in theUnited States Patent Office on Oct. 2. 1970.

This invention relates to a driven farm crop pickup BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION In the above referenced application, which is incorporatedherein by reference, applicant has disclosed farm crop handlingapparatus including a stripper drum having a plurality of axially spacedopenings therein for receiving a plurality of radially extending pickuptines which move therethrough between radially protracted and retractedpositions for picking up and depositing crops on the stripper drum asthe drum and pickup tines are rotated.

In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 5 of the parent application, whereinthe pickup tines drive the stripper drum, if the stripper drum becomescaked with mud and becomes difficult to drive, it may occur that thepickup tines will escape through the openings in the outer surface ofthe drum and be moved to positions entirely within the stripper drum,thus disabling the machine. In the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1, 2and 4 of the referenced application, the stripper drum and the pickupassembly are individually driven by spocket wheels and chains, but, ifthe chains become loose with wear and skip or jump the spockets, thestripper drum and pickup tines may get out of time causing the tines tomove inwardly of the stripper drum assembly.

When the tines are wrapped interiorly of the stripper drum assembly, itis apparent that the machine must be stopped and the pickup assemblydismantled so that the tines can again be positioned in the drumopenings. Such repairs cause substantial down-time The harvesting ofcrops is weather-dependent and if a farmers machine is out of commissionfor even short periods during harvesting time, the unharvested crop canrepresent a substantial loss and thus, it is important that a pickupassembly be provided which will positively drive the stripper drum intime with the pickup tine assembly to preclude the pickup tines frominadvertently moving completely interiorly of the crop strippingassembly. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention toprovide farm crop handling apparatus having a pickup tine assemblypositively coupled to a rotatable crop stripping assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide crop handlingapparatus including a pickup tine assembly having crop pickup tinesradially movable through openings in a stripper drum assembly and aplurality of flexible coupling members connected between the pickup tineassembly and the stripper drum for positively successively driving thedrum when the pickup tine assembly is rotated.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art as the descriptiohthereof proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Farm crop handling apparatus comprising: croplifting means rotatable about a first longitudinal axis for liftingcrop; crop stripping means rotatable about a second longitudinal axisspaced from the first axis for stripping the crop from the crop liftingmeans when the crop lifting means is rotated; the crop stripping meansincluding a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings; the croplifting means including support means interiorly of the stripping meansand a plurality of radially outwardly extending pickup tines on thesupport means radially movable through said openings between radiallyouter positions to pick up crop and radially inner positions to depositthe picked-up crop on the crop stripping means as the crop lifting meansand crop stripping means are rotated; means for rotating the croplifting means about the first axis; and flexible coupling meansreactable between the crop lifting means and the stripping means forrotating the crop stripping means about the second axis as the strippingmeans is rotated about the first axis.

The present invention may more readily be described by reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of crop handling apparatus constructedaccording to the present invention, parts of the apparatus being brokenaway to more clearly illustrate underlying portions thereof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional, end view taken along the line 22 ofFIG. 1, and ilustrating the coupling members for coupling the pickuptine assembly to the stripper drum when .the pickup tine assembly isdriven in one direction of rotation;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, opposite sectional end elevational view, takenalong the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and illustrating the coupling members forcoupling the pickup tine assembly to the stripper drum when the pickuptine assembly is rotated in a reverse direction; and

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged sectional end view, illustrating one of theflexible coupling members coupled to the stripper drum. A

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENT ent invention isgenerally designated 14 and is particularly adapted for use with awindrowing machine of the.

type disclosed in the referenced patent application. The frame of atypical windrowing machine is generally designated F and includes a pairof side frame members 10 and 12 for supporting the pickup apparatus 14.The pickup apparatus 14 includes a pickup assembly, generally designated16, and a stripper drum assembly, generally designated 18.

The pickup assembly 16 includes a rotatable tine mounting cylinder 20having end plates 21 fixed to reduced stub shafts 22 journaled in a pairof frame supported bearings 24. A sprocket wheel 26, which is fixed tothe end of one stub shaft 22, has a drive chain 28 trained therearound,for normally driving the pickup assembly in the direction of the arrow a(FIG. 2) to pick up crop and propel it rearwardly'while the drum movesforwardly with the windrowing machine. The tine mounting cylinder 20includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced, increased diameter tinemounting lugs 30 thereon for receiving tine mounting clevises 32removably secured thereto by removable locking pins 34. The clevismembers 32 are formed of resilient material such as rubber, and eachmounts a radially outwardly extending tine 36 having a terminal endportion 36a angled forwardly in the direction of rotation indicated bythe arrow a. The tines 36 are longitudinally disposed in rows on thecylinder 20 and the tines of each row are longitudinally staggered withthe tines of an adjacent row to facilitate crop pickup. The rotationalaxis of the tine assembly 16 is designated b.

The stripper drum assembly 18 is constructed generally identically tothe stripper drum D disclosed in the above referenced application andincludes a plurality of longitudinally extending, parallel mounting rods38, welded or otherwise suitably secured at their ends to a pair ofannular end plates 40. Each of the end plates 40 includes an annular,axially extending flange 42 rotatably supported on a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced roller bearing members 44 which are journaledon support bolts 45 that are connected to the frame members and 12 bynuts 46.

Connected to each of the parallel mounting rods 38 of the stripper drumassembly 18 is a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferentiallyextending trough sections 48 including curved mounting plates 49,secured to the rods 38 by a plurality of bolts 51 threadedly received insuitable tapped openings provided in the rods 38. Each trough section 48mounts at least a pair of circumferentially extending, curvilinear, V-shaped trough members 50 each including a pair of curvilinear plates 52joined at their radially inwardly disposed apex 53 and divergingradially outwardly. The radially outer edge portions 52a of the plates52 of the adjacent troughs 50 are spaced apart a distance 0 to defineopenings 55 receiving the crop pickup tines 36. The trough ends remotefrom the bolts 51 are closed by end walls 54 having a curvaturecorresponding to the curvature of the adjacent mounting rod 38 so as tobe supported thereby when the trough sections 48 are bolted in thepositions illustrated in the drawing.,The troughs 50 serve to collectgrain or seed which may be shelled while the crop is being lifted by thetine assembly 16 and to propel the shelled grain rearwardly to besuspended in the grain stocks positioned in the window. It should berealized that the pickup assembly 14 can be utilized with a graincombine in which instance the grain collected by the troughs 50 ispropelled directly onto the feeder table of the combine and hence muchotherwise wasted grain is saved to increase the yield of the crop beingharvested.

In addition to the increased crop yield resulting from the use ofapparatus constructed according to the present invention, the radiallyouter trough edge portions 520 present a substantially decreasedexternal surface area on which mud can adhere when the crop is beingharvested. The discontinuous outer surface of the stripper drum furtherinhibits the collection of mud on the drum and thus reduces the powerrequired to drive the drum.

The rotational axis e of the drum assembly 18 is offset from, butparallel to, the axis b of the pickup assembly 16. When the pickupassembly 16 and stripper drum assembly 18 are rotated, the tines 36follow a path which is eccentric relative to the path of the drum 18 sothat the tines 36 will protrude to their maximum length along the frontand lower side of the drum assembly 18, as viewed in FIG. 2 to pick upthe crop and carry it around the stripper drum assembly 18 and then beretracted inwardly through the slots 55 in the stripper drum assembly 18along the top and rear side thereof to deposit the crop on the stripperdrum 18. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the terminal portions 36a of thetines 36 are spaced a distance f inwardly of the outer peripheral edgeportions 52a of the trough-shaped members 50 when the tines 36 passalong the upper and rear portions of the drum 18. If the tines 36 areobstructed or deflected sidewisely from their normal positions, theresilient mounting clevises 32 would also deflect and the tines 36 wouldbe guided radially outwardly by the walls 52 as the tines 36 moveradially outwardly.

For rotating the drum assembly 18 as the pickup assembly 16 is driven bythe drive chain 28, in the direction of the arrow a (FIG. 2), a couplingsystem S is provided and comprises a plurality of generallycircumferentially spaced, flexible straps 60 connected between therotating cylinder 20 of the pickup assembly 16 and the longitudinallymounting rods 38 of the drum assembly 18. The straps 60 are all of thesame length and may comprise woven fabric, of the type conventionallyused in automobile seat belts. The ends 64 of the straps 60 are receivedin circumferentially spaced, U-shaped mounting members 62 connected tothe longitudinal stripper drum mounting bars 38 and the outer surface ofthe pickup assembly tine mounting cylinder 20. The ends 64 of the straps60 are folded over on themselves and stitched together at 63 to form aloop which receives a wedge 66, after the loops are passed through themounting members 62, to preclude them from being withdrawn through themounting members 62. Alternate ones of the brackets 62 and straps 60 areaxially spaced from the intermediate brackets 62 and straps 60 (see FIG.2) so that the adjacent straps 60 do not become intertwined or tangledas the pickup apparatus is rotating.

Because the rotational axis b of the pickup assembly 16 is offset fromthe axis e of the stripper assembly, only one web, as shown at 60a, willbe in tension at any one time. The remaining ones of the straps 60 willbe limp at this time. As the drum assembly and pickup assembly continueto rotate, successive ones of the straps 60 will be movedinto a positionof tension to drive the drum. a

To unwind crop which sometimes becomes wound on the pickup assembly andstripper assembly, the pickup assembly and stripper assembly are drivenin a reverse direction of rotation, represented by the arrow 3 (FIG. 3).Apparatus, generally designated S, is provided for positively couplingreverse rotation of the pickup assembly to the stripper drum. Theapparatus S is generally identical to the drive system S except that thedrive system S and S are of opposite hand. Parts of the system 5'corresponding to like parts of the drive system S, are identified withidentical numerals followed by a prime designation. The drive system Sincludes straps 60 which are connected to mounting members 62 on thetine mounting cylinder 20 and the stripper drum mounting bars 38 so thatat least one of the straps 60' will be in tension immediately drivingthe drum when the drum assembly 18 is reversely driven. If the drivesystem S were not provided, the pickup assembly 16 would be driven inthe reverse direction through a substantial distance before the stripperdrum would be reversely driven. The straps 60 and 60 may suitably combeutilized to reduce the pulsations and provide a smoother drive.

THE OPERATION The drive chain 28 is driven to rotate the pickup assembly16 in the direction of the arrow a about its rotational axis b. Thepickup tines 36 on the tine assembly 16 protrude through the openings55, between the troughs 50 along the front and lower portion of thestripping drum 18, to lift the scattered crop and move it rearwardly oraround the upper portion of the stripper drum assembly 18. Because thetine assembly 16 is rotatable about an axis b offset from the axis e ofthe stripper drum 18, the tines 36 move in an eccentric path of travelrelative to the circular path of movement of the stripper plates 58 soas to be retracted through the slots 55 along the top and rear portionsof the drum assembly 18 to deposit the scattered crop thereon. The webs60 successively come into positions of tension as illustrated at 60a inFIG. 2 to drive the drum assembly 18 as the pickup assembly 16 is beingrotated in the direction of the arrow a. The rotating drum 18 propelsthe crop deposited thereon rearwardly for further processing.

If the pickup assembly is driven in the reverse direction g (FIG. 3) thestraps 60 at the opposite end of the pickup assembly successively moveto positions of tension to drive the stripper drum in the oppositedirection.

It is to be understood that the drawings and descriptive matter are inall cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles ofthe invention, rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it iscontemplated that various changes may be made in various elements toachieve like results without departing from the spirit of the inventionor the scope of the appended claims. 1

I claim:

1. Farm crop handling apparatus comprising:

longitudinally extending crop lifting means rotatable about itslongitudinal axis for lifting crop; longitudinally extending cropstripping means rotatable about its longitudinal axis for stripping thecrop from said crop lifting means when said crop lifting means isrotated; 1

said crop stripping means including a plurality of Ion gitudinallyspaced openings;

said crop lifting means including supportmeans 'disposed interiorly ofsaid strippingmeans, and a plurality of radially outwardly extending,circumferentially and longitudinally spaced pickup tines on said supportmeans successively movable in said openings between radially outerpositions to pick up crop and radially innerv positions to deposit thepicked up crop on said crop stripping means as said crop lifting meansand crop stripping means are rotated;

means for rotatingsaid crop lifting means about its axis; and

flexible coupling means reactable between said crop lifting means andsaid crop stripping means for rotating said crop stripping means andsaid crop lifting means in substantial unison in said one direction andpositively interrupting rotation of said tines in said one directionrelative to said crop stripping means as said crop lifting means isrotated about its said axis in said one direction.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible couplingmeans comprises a purality of generally circumferenJially spaced,flexible coupling members successively movable between collapsed,inoperative positions, and elongated draft positions in tension betweensaid crop lifting means and said crop stripping means for successivelyapplying a rotary force to the crop stripping means when the croplifting means is rotated in one direction of rotation.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said flexible couplingmeans comprises an additional plurality of generally circumferentiallyspaced, flexible coupling members successively movable between collapsedinoperative conditions and elongated draft conditions in tension betweensaid crop lifting means and said crop stripping means to draw the cropstripping means when the crop lifting means is rotated in the oppositedirection of rotation, at least one of said firstme'ntioned plurality ofsaid coupling members always being in tension when said crop strippingmeans isrotated in said one direction and at least one of saidadditional plurality of coupling members always being in tension whensaid crop stripping means is rotated in the opposite direction toprovide immediate, positive driving of said crop stripping means whensaid crop lifting means rotates in either direction.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein at least a portion of saidflexible coupling members are axially spaced from'adjacentcoupling'rnembers to preclude the adjacent coupling members from beinginterwound with each other as the crop lifting means and crop strippingmeans are rotated.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said coupling memberscomprise a plurality of flexible straps disposed interiorly of saidstripping means, and circumferentially space d means is provided forremovably coupling said straps to said lifting means and saidstrippingmeans.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the axis of rotation of said cropstripping means is spaced from the axis' of rotation of said croplifting means.

7. Farm crop handling apparatus including: crop lifting means rotatableabout a longitudinal axis for lifting crop; generally cylindrical,rotatable crop stripping means, capable of limited rotary movementrelative to said crop lifting means, for stripping the crop from saidcrop lifting means when said crop lifting means is rotated; 4 I saidcrop stripping means including a plurality of longitudinally spacedopenings; 1 said crop lifting means including support meansdisposedinteriorly of said stripping means, and a plurality of pickup tines onsaid support means movable in said openings between radiallyouterpositions to pick up crop and radiallyv inner positions to deposit thepicked up crop on said crop'stripping means as said crop lifting meansand said crop stripping means are rotated; means for rotating said croplifting means about its axis in one direction; and

means disposed completely interiorly of said crop stripping means alwaysdrivingly connected between said crop lifting means and said strippingmeans for rotatably driving said crop stripping means in said onedirection to positively limit rotation of said tines in said onedirection relative to said crop stripping means as said crop liftingmeans is rotated about its said axis in said one direction.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said driving meanscomprises a plurality of generally circumferentially spaced, flexiblecoupling members.

9. Farm crop handling apparatus comprising:

crop lifting means rotatable about an axis;

crop stripping means, capable of limited rotary movement relative tosaid crop lifting means, rotatable about an axis and operable inresponse to rotation in one direction of said crop lifting means tostrip crop therefrom;

means for rotating said crop lifting means in said one direction; and

a plurality of flexible coupling members connecting said crop liftingmeans and said crop stripping means for successively applying a rotaryforce on said crop stripping means and positively interrupting rotationof said crop lifting means in said one direction relative to said cropstripping means in response to rotation of said crop lifting means insaid one direction.

10. The farm crop handling apparatus set forth in claim 9 including anadditional plurality of flexible coupling members connecting said croplifting means and said crop stripping means for successively applying arotary force to said crop stripping means in response to rotation ofsaid crop lifting means in an opposite direction.

11. ,The farm crop handling apparatus set forth in claim 10 wherein oneof said first plurality of coupling members is substantially always intension whenever said crop lifting means is rotated in said onedirection and one of said additional plurality of a flexible couplingmembers is substantially always in tension whenever said crop liftingmeans is rotated in the opposite direction.

1. Farm crop handling apparatus comprising: longitudinally extendingcrop lifting means rotatable about its longitudinal axis for liftingcrop; longitudinally extending crop stripping means rotatable about itslongitudinal axis for stripping the crop from said crop lifting meanswhen said crop lifting means is rotated; said crop stripping meansincluding a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings; said croplifting means including support means disposed interiorly of saidstripping means, and a plurality of radially outwardly extending,circumferentially and longitudinally spaced pickup tines on said supportmeans successively movable in said openings between radially outerpositions to pick up crop and radially inner positions to deposit thepicked up crop on said crop stripping means as said crop lifting meansand crop stripping means are rotated; means for rotating said croplifting means about its axis; and flexible coupling means reactablebetween said crop lifting means and said crop stripping means forrotating said crop stripping means and said crop lifting means insubstantial unison in said one direction and positively interruptingrotation of said tines in said one direction relative to said cropstripping means as said crop lifting means is rotated about its saidaxis in said one direction.
 2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1wherein said flexible coupling means comprises a p urality of generallycircumferentially spaced, flexible couplIng members successively movablebetween collapsed, inoperative positions, and elongated draft positionsin tension between said crop lifting means and said crop stripping meansfor successively applying a rotary force to the crop stripping meanswhen the crop lifting means is rotated in one direction of rotation. 3.The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said flexible coupling meanscomprises an additional plurality of generally circumferentially spaced,flexible coupling members successively movable between collapsedinoperative conditions and elongated draft conditions in tension betweensaid crop lifting means and said crop stripping means to draw the cropstripping means when the crop lifting means is rotated in the oppositedirection of rotation, at least one of said first-mentioned plurality ofsaid coupling members always being in tension when said crop strippingmeans is rotated in said one direction and at least one of saidadditional plurality of coupling members always being in tension whensaid crop stripping means is rotated in the opposite direction toprovide immediate, positive driving of said crop stripping means whensaid crop lifting means rotates in either direction.
 4. The apparatusset forth in claim 2 wherein at least a portion of said flexiblecoupling members are axially spaced from adjacent coupling members topreclude the adjacent coupling members from being interwound with eachother as the crop lifting means and crop stripping means are rotated. 5.The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said coupling memberscomprise a plurality of flexible straps disposeD interiorly of saidstripping means, and circumferentially spaced means is provided forremovably coupling said straps to said lifting means and said strippingmeans.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the axis of rotation of saidcrop stripping means is spaced from the axis of rotation of said croplifting means.
 7. Farm crop handling apparatus including: crop liftingmeans rotatable about a longitudinal axis for lifting crop; generallycylindrical, rotatable crop stripping means, capable of limited rotarymovement relative to said crop lifting means, for stripping the cropfrom said crop lifting means when said crop lifting means is rotated;said crop stripping means including a plurality of longitudinally spacedopenings; said crop lifting means including support means disposedinteriorly of said stripping means, and a plurality of pickup tines onsaid support means movable in said openings between radially outerpositions to pick up crop and radially inner positions to deposit thepicked up crop on said crop stripping means as said crop lifting meansand said crop stripping means are rotated; means for rotating said croplifting means about its axis in one direction; and means disposedcompletely interiorly of said crop stripping means always drivinglyconnected between said crop lifting means and said stripping means forrotatably driving said crop stripping means in said one direction topositively limit rotation of said tines in said one direction relativeto said crop stripping means as said crop lifting means is rotated aboutits said axis in said one direction.
 8. The apparatus set forth in claim7 wherein said driving means comprises a plurality of generallycircumferentially spaced, flexible coupling members.
 9. Farm crophandling apparatus comprising: crop lifting means rotatable about anaxis; crop stripping means, capable of limited rotary movement relativeto said crop lifting means, rotatable about an axis and operable inresponse to rotation in one direction of said crop lifting means tostrip crop therefrom; means for rotating said crop lifting means in saidone direction; and a plurality of flexible coupling members connectingsaid crop lifting means and said crop stripping means for successivelyapplying a rotary force on said crop stripping means and positivelyinterrupting rotation of said crop lifting means in said one directionrelative to said crop stripping means in response to rotation of saidcrop lifting means in said one direction.
 10. The farm crop handlingapparatus set forth in claim 9 including an additional plurality offlexible coupling members connecting said crop lifting means and saidcrop stripping means for successively applying a rotary force to saidcrop stripping means in response to rotation of said crop lifting meansin an opposite direction.
 11. The farm crop handling apparatus set forthin claim 10 wherein one of said first plurality of coupling members issubstantially always in tension whenever said crop lifting means isrotated in said one direction and one of said additional plurality of aflexible coupling members is substantially always in tension wheneversaid crop lifting means is rotated in the opposite direction.